RAC reacts to Inrix report showing how long drivers spend stuck in traffic

RAC
spokesman Rod Dennis said:
"These
figures bring into sharp focus a reality suffered by commuters up and down the
UK every year - that in some areas our roads are struggling to cope under the sheer
weight of traffic. Not only is this bad news for the economy, it's also bad for
air quality and indeed drivers' own wellbeing.

"Nearly
three-quarters (74%) of motorists we spoke to for the annual Report on Motoring
told us that they would find it very difficult to adjust their lifestyle
without a car; 63% said that they would use their car less if public transport
was better. This highlights the uncomfortable truth in the UK - that with few
viable transport alternatives outside major cities, having access to a car is
simply a necessity for millions of people.
"There is
no silver bullet to sorting out congestion. Ring-fenced funding for improving
England's major roads from 2021 should help, but there also needs to be an
emphasis placed on providing cheap, practical, reliable alternatives to the car
- especially in urban areas. In the meantime urban planners should be looking
at how we can maximise vehicle flow - looking at traffic light sequencing,
reducing the amount of time roadworks are live on roads and seeing what impact
reducing road space for vehicles is having on journey times. Employers and
individuals can also do their bit by encouraging greater car sharing."

Featured report

ACFO attended the Road Safety Management Capacity Review (RSMCR) workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss some of the draft recommendations produced within a draft report and available to download below.